Dental chair



' 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. T. J. OARRIGK.

DENTAL CHAIR. No. 415,307. Patented Nov. 19, 1889.

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T. J. OARRIGK. DENTAL CHAIR.

No. 415,307. Patented Nov. 19, 1889.

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in the best way now known to me.

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

THOMAS J. CARRICK, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGXMENTS, TO THE S. IVHITE DENTAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHIIn-XDELII'IIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DENTAL CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,307, dated November 19, 1889.

Application filed January 14, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. CARRIUK, of Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dentists Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of chairs (more especially designed for the use of dentists) possessing a wide range of adjustment in order to enable the operator to place the patient in dilferent positions conducive to the skillful, easy, and rapid performance of delicate operations, the ease and comfort of the patient, as far as practicable, while in the operating-chair being also insured and the firmness of position maintained.

The object of my invention is to provide a dental chair having a wider range of adj ustment than anyheretofore constructed of which I am aware, provision being made for the ease and comfort of the-patient, while enabling the dental operations to be performed with greater nicety and rapidity, and consequently with less pain or annoyance to the patient.

My invention consists of certain novel constructions, organizations, and combinations of devices, which are recited at the close of the specification.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my improvements as embodied in a dental chair Obviously, however, some of my improvements may be used without the others and in chairs differing in their details of construction from the one therein shown. It will also be apparent that the details of construction shown may be varied in certain well-known ways without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In said drawings, Figure l is a View, partly in section, of the base of the chair, showing the construction of the seat-supporting plunger or spindle and the lifting mechanism for elevating or lowering said spindle relatively to the base, in order to vary the vertical position orheightof the chairbodyorscat. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section through the upper end of the base or pedestal and supporting-spindle, showing the longitudinal guidegroove in said spindle and the lever engaging therewith. Fig. 3 is a plan or top view of the seat-frame as mounted upon the crossbar carried by the spindle so as to rock thereon, with the locking or clamping mechanism to secure the seat-frame in the desired tilted 5 5 position. Fig. i is a side view thereof. Fig. 5 is a vertical section therethrough on the line 3 8 of Fig. 3. Figs. 6 and 7 are views of the split clamp detached. Fig.8 is a side view of the front portion of the seat-frame, the arm of the chair, and the pendent footboard-supporting frame. Fig. 9 isa sectional View of one of the arms and its supporting and adjusting mechanism. Fig. 10 is a view from the rear of the pendent foot-board-supporting frame, showing the mechanism for adjusting the foot-board or platform of the chair up and down. Fig. 11 is an inverted plan view of the foot-board and its adjusting devices. Fig. 12 is a View of the locking lever or detent of the foot-board-adjusting devices. Fig. 1-3 is a view from the rear of the chair-back and its adjusting devices. Fig. 14: is a side elevation of the upper works of my improved chair. Fig. 15 is a transverse section through the chair-back and its clamping and adjusting devices on the line 2 2 of Fig. 13. Fig. 16 is a plan or top View, partly in section, of the head-rest; and Figs. 17 and 18, respectively, are side and plan views of the operators stool and foot-rest carried by the chair. Fig. if) is a view of the improved chair with its various parts assembled together.

The base or pedestal A is preferably cast of metal, with an upper tubular cylindrical portion and suitable supporting legs or feet. The piston, plunger, or spindle B is movable endwise or vertically in the base or pedestal in the usual manner, and carries upon its upper end a suitable cross-bar c, the ends of which form trunuions or journals, which fit in suitable openings or boxes in the seat-frame C of the chair, as usual, in order to enable said seateframe and the entire chair-body supported thereby to be tilted or variably inelined at pleasure.

In order to raise and lower the piston or spindle B, and consequently the seat or chairbody carried thereby, relatively to the base, while permitting said spindle to turn or swivel freely in the base in order to accomplish the horizontal adjustment of the chair body or seat, I provide said spindle with a series of separate or disconnected circumferential teeth or ribs a, (clearly shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5,) constituting, in fact, a circular rack, and in a suitable bracket-frame 19, near the upper end of the pedestal or base, I mount a pinion-wheel c, meshing with the teeth or ribs on the spindle, the pinion being rotated to elevate or lower the plunger by a suitable Worm-wheel mounted on a shaft d, turning in bearings in the bracket-frame?) and operated by means of a suitable crank or handle in a Well-known way. a I

In order to prevent the spindle or piston from'rotating during the elevating or lowering operation, I provide it with a longitudinal groove a, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and pivot upon the base a lever B, the inner end of which works through a slot in said base and normally engages the groove in the piston.

It will be obvious that by rotating the pinion-wheel by its worm and shaft the spindle will be raised or lowered, .while incapable of turning or swiveling in the base, and that the spindle will be retainedat the desired elevation without the use of additional locking devices, while if it is desired to adjust the chair body or seat horizontally it is only necessary to disengage the lever B from'. the groove a and swivel or turn the spindle in the base, which is permitted, without altering the vertical relation of the spindle to the base, by the circular ribs Z) on said spindle.

It willbe obvious, of course, that the lever B may be operated by the foot to avoid the necessity of stooping.

As above stated, the chair-body or seatframe is mounted upon the usual cross-bar c, with the trunnions or journals at its ends, in order to enable the chair body or seat to be tilted or rocked; but the cross-bar may have its ends secured to the seat-frame and its central portion turned or cylindrical, as shown at 00, Fig. 13,to operate as a rock-shaft in a suitablebearing on the seat-supporting spindle.

In order to lock-the chair body or seat at the desired inclination when rocked or tilted upon the cross-bar e, I pivot a rod E at its upper end to the front of the seat-frame or an extension thereof, and provide the upper end of the spindle B with an extension-arm or bracket-frame f, (extending in a direction transversely to the cross-bar 6,) carrying a clamping device, in which the adj usting-rod E moves endwise and is locked to secure the chair-body in its tilted position. This clamping device consists, by preference, of an eye g, slit or open at one side, as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6, and 7, with the parts h thereof on each side of the slit extended and enlarged, and terminating in semicircular bases, the two parts h forming a portion of a cone.

A plate 1', having a tapering opening corre- H ble endwise in the eye g, the swiveling or turning of said eye in its clamping-plate accommodating the movements and changing position of the rod E.

While a clamping device constructed as above described is preferred for use in conjunction with the pivoted adjusting-rod, other yielding clamps may be employed in place thereof.

The arms F of the chair are given a wide range of adjustment relatively to the seat of the chair, and are rendered detachable. Figs. 8 and 9 represent the adjustable and detachable arm, which may be of any suitable construction and shape, and is mounted upon a standard j, the lower end of which is cylindrical and inserted in the socket or eye 9 of the clamping mechanism, which mechanism is preferably similar in construction and operation to the clamping device hereinbefore described-that is, itconsists of the split eye 9, constructed with the semicircular ,bases fitting a correspondingly-shaped opening in a clamping-plate 11, which is tightened by the set or lever screw D. Ihe seat-frame is slotted horizontally at C for the reception of the rear clamping-plate 7a, which is provided with a tongue fitting the slot, whereby the clamping mechanism may be adjusted backward and forward, while maintained in the proper position to be firmly clamped to the seat-frame at any desired point. It will thus be seen that the arm is given a wide range of adjustment-that is, it may be adjusted backward and forwardby means of the sliding clamp, turned horizontally or swiveled transversely or crosswise relatively to the seat by means of its cylindrical standard turning in the clamp-socket, adjusted vertically by means of the endwise movement of said standard in the clamp-socket, and rocked downward out of the way of the operator, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 8, by the swiveling or turning of the split socket in its clamping-plate,,and may be se curely clamped in the desired position by the operation of asingle set-screw or clampinglever. The arm may also be detached entirely from the chair, if desired, by releasing or loosening the clamp, which permits endwise movement and withdrawal of the standard of the arm from the eye or socket g.

Figs. 8, 10, 11, and 12show the construction of the pendent foot-board or platform supporting frame, the foot-board or platform proper, the foot-rest carried by the platform, and the mechanism for adjusting the foot- IIO board or platform relatively to the seat. The pendent supporting-frame K is provided with side bars or guides L, which guides are preferably provided with grooves L for the reception of the edges of or suitable tongues formed upon a lifting-frame .l, which is arranged at the back of the pendent frame K, and carries the platform or foot-board H in front of said frame, the lifting-frame and the platform being united by suitable connections J, which pass around or outside the side bars or guides L. A lever M is pivoted to one of the side bars 1 of the pendent frame K, as shown in Fig. 1'0, and is provided with a longitudinal slot m, through which passes a bolt or pivot 17, secured at the center of the lifting-frame .l. The end of the lever opposite that pivoted to the pendent frame extends out a short distance upon one side of vthe chair, and has a suitable handle to be grasped by the operator to lift the frame J, and with it the platform ll, of the chair, the belt or pivot a sliding in the slot m of the lever, as will be readily understood, during the raising or lowering movements of the liftingframe.

In order to lock the lifting-frame at any desired point in its range of movement-,1 pivot upon the lever M a lever 0, provided with a pawl or teeth 0, which engages with a curved segmental rack or toothed plate N, secured upon or forming part of the pendent frame K, the locking-tooth being normally kept in engagement with the rack N by means of a suitable springm, which acts to separate the two levers, as shown in Fig. 10.

By the construction and organization above described the op rater can with one hand grasp the handles of the two levers ll 0 and readily adjust the platform or foot-board H, as desired.

The foot-rest proper l is provided with coupling irons or hooks 21, one preferably near each side of the platform, which engage with suitable eyes or sockets a, formed in suitable supports or pendent irons on the front or outer end of the platform or footboard H, whereby the foot-rest is firmly locked to the platform at its outer end, or may be readily detached, as will be obvious, the ob ject of rendering the foot-rest detachable being to enable said foot-rest to be adjusted relatively to the seat independently of the platform, the pendent frame K having suit able eyes, holes, or sockets l at different points for the reception of the supporting hooks or irons n of the foot-rest. (Sec Figs. 8 and 10.)

It will thus be seen that when titted to the front of the foot-board or platform the rest 1 maybe adjusted therewith relatively to the seat and its pendent frame, and that when vertically adjusted by fitting it to the pendent frame above the platform the foot-rest is adapted for use by a child or short person, who may readily mount to the seat by using the platform and adjustable foot-rest as steps.

A support for the back of the chair consists, preferably, of two curved standards or arms P P, firmly connected with and rising from the rear of the seat frame C, with their upper ends converging toward each other and connected by a round cross bolt or rod which is rendered incapable of turning, and constitutes the pivot or axis around which a clampjoint or locking-connection between the back or pad R and the supporting-frame turns, rocks, or swivels, in order to enable the back to be rocked or tilted and securely look ed at any desirable inclination relatively to the seat of the chair. The back is also given an endwise movement or vertical adjustment relatively to its supporting-frame and to the chair-seat, as well as rocking or tilting and sliding adjustments to positions transverse or crosswise of said seat. These adjustments of the chair-back are attained in the present instance by means of a clamping device controlled by a single set or lever screw, substantially similar to those hereinbefore described, by which the adjustments of the seat and arm are secured, although it will be understood that other clamping devices maybe substituted for the one shown. The split eye 9 encircles the bolt or rod 1), and may slide endwise of this bolt to move the back toward either side of the chair, while its cone-shaped ends-fit in a correspondiugly-shaped opening in the clamping-plate i, the lower end of said plate being connected to the inside clamping-plate 7; of the clamp-joint (shown in Fig. 15) by a suitable connecting-screw, while the upper end of said plate t is drawn down or tightened by means of a set or lever screw, as before described. Interposed between the two elamping-plates i 7; of the clamping device is a slotted plate q, firmly secured to the rear side of the back or pad R, and provided with a longitudinal slot 0', to permit the back to slide or be moved up and down or endwise upon the clamp, whereby said back is permitted to slide endwise or be adjusted vertically when the clamp is loosened, but is firmly locked when the clamp is tightened, by the clamping of the slotted back plate g between the plate 7t and the ends of the coneshaped arms of the split eye or socket g. It will thus be seen that the back or pad B may be rocked or tilted by means of the movement of the clamp around the bolt 1), that it may slide or be adjusted endwise or vertically by means of the slotted plate 1, that it may be turned or adjusted so as to be, at different angles crosswise of the seat by means of the turning or swiveling of the plate i upon the cone ends of the split eye g, and that it may be adjusted crosswise of the seat or toward either side of the chair by sliding the split eye upon the cross-bolt of the supporting-frame, the said back being locked in its adjusted position by means of a single clamp screw or lever acting upon the sections (the cone-ended split eye g and plates i 76) of the clamp.

' per laterally-projecting or bent. end of said bar a split clamp, substantially similar to those before described, is mounted. This clamp slides backward and forward upon the head-rest bar, and may turn around or upon it as an axis, and is clamped at any point desired by a set-screw. Duplicate split eyes or clamps are employed in this instance, one encircling the head-rest bar and the other the bar WV, connecting the rear ends of two parallel arms u u, carrying at their. front ends the head-rest pad T, which may be of any suitable construction. The said arms a 'Lt, by their connecting-bar W, may rock vertically in the cla1np-socket,while the head-rest may be moved laterally or to either side of the chair by the turning or swiveling of one of the split eyes or sections or the clamp relatively to the other. The connection between the arms u u and pad T consists in this instance of a plate t, secured to the head-rest pad and provided with an eye .or sockettapering inwardly from each side, so as to form at each side a tapering seat for the reception of correspondingly-shaped projections orcones r r of the arms u, a clamp-screw V being passed through the cones r r and plate 25 to lock the parts together, as clearly shown in Fig. 16. It will thus be seen that the head-rest is given a wide range of adj ustment relatively to the back of the chair and independently thereof.

Eneircling a cylindrical portion of the base or pedestal is a sectional clamp-collar P,

adapted to rotate freely around the base, or

be firmly clamped thereto by a set or lever screw Z). From the clamp P is extended an arm or portion 0', provided with a sleeve or socket d,for the reception of a sliding or telescoping section or arm 6, capable of being locked at any desired point by asuitable clamp, if desired. This extensible arm or section carries at its outer end, preferably, a

clamping device substantially similar to those hereinbefore described, the split eye g thereof being capable of turning or swiveling in its clamping-plate, and receiving the standard or cylindrical support 71/ of the operators seat or stool S. The lever D locks said standard 71." firmly in position at any desired inclination permitted by the turning of the eye 9, or at any desired elevation permitted by the endwise movement of the standard in the eye g. The seat is permitted. to rotate freely upon the standard by a suitable shank, which enters a socket in the upper end of said standard in a well-known way. (See Fig.

17.) Interposed between the seat and base, and mounted upon the extensible arm e", is the operators foot-rest T, said rest being adjustable by sliding it upon the arm 6".

It will thus be seen that the stool andfootrest may be rotated entirely about the sup porting base or pedestal, so as to enable the operator to have his stool and rest at either side, that said stool and rest may be adjusted toward and from the chair, and that by means of the clamp the height of, the stool as well as its inclination may be varied.

. The above-described operators seat or stool, the operators foot-rest, and the devices whereby these parts are mounted so as to be supported by and turn about the chair-base and adapted to be clamped in position are not herein claimed, but form the subject-matter of my divisional application, Serial No. 318,439, for United States Letters Patent for improvements in dentists chairs, filed July 23, 1889, description and illustration of said operators seat or stool and its appurtenances being herein retained in order to show a completely organized dentists chair.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the chair-base, the seatsupporting spindle fitted to move endwise and turn or revolve in said base,' and provided with the ribs or rack-teeth encircling said spindle, the pinion-wheel gearing with said teeth to elevate said spindle, and mechanism, substantially as described, to rotate said pinion, whereby the seat-supporting spindle may be adjusted vertically by a rack and pinion, while fitted to be rotated horizontally independently in the chair-base to adjust the chair-seat horizontally.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the chair-base, the seatsupporting spindle fitted to rotate in said base and provided with the ribs or rack-teeth encircling said spindle, the pinion gearing with said teeth, and the worm-wheel to turn said pinion.

The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the base, the seat-sup porting spindle fitted to revolve as well as move endwise independently in said base, and provided with a longitudinal groove therein, the lever engaging said groove to normally restrain the spindle from rotation or turning movement, and mechanism, substantially as described, fitted to elevate said spindle irrespective of the engagement of said lever with said groove, substantially as described.

4. The combination, substantially as set forth, in an operating-chair, of the frame of the chair, the rocking arm of the chair, and the turning clamp-connection between said frame and arm, about which connection the arm is permitted to be turned downward be- IIO frame connected with the lifting-frame and low the chair-seat out of the way of the opcrl ator.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, in an operating-chair, of the frame of the chair, the arm of the chair, the standard or support carrying said arm, and the sliding clamp-socket in which said standard is fitted to turn horizontally, whereby the arm may be adjusted backward and forward as well as crosswise relatively to the stationary chair-frame, as set forth.

(5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, in an operating-chair, of the frame of the chair, the arm of the chair, the standard or support of said arm, and the sliding and rocking clampconnection between said frame and said arm, whereby said arm may be adj ustcd backward and forward relatively to said clmir-frame and be turned down below the chair-seat out of the way of the operator when necessary, substantially as described.

7. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, in an operatiiig-chair, of the frame of the chair, the arm of the chair, the standard or support of said arm, and a sliding clamp-connection between said frame and standard having a rocking or rotatable socket-piece in which said standard is fitted to turn horizontally, whereby said arm may be turned crosswise or horizontally, adjusted back and forth, and rocked downward out of the way relatively to the seat of the chair, substantially as described.

8. The seat-frame of an operating-chair having a sliding connection for an arm of said chair, whereby said arm may be moved horizontally along said seatframe and independently of the seat of the chair, in combination with a locking device to lock said arm to said seat-frame in its adjusted position, substantially as described.

9. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the pendent supportingframe, its side bars or guides, the liftingframe carrying the platform, fitting said guides so as to be moved up and down thereon, the lifting-lever pivoted to the pendent extending outward at one side of the chair, the detent, and the toothed plate or rack upon the pendent frame with which said detent engages to lock the platform in its adjusted position.

10. In an operating-chair having below the seat a pendent frame and a platform or footboard sustained thereby, supporting-connections on said pendent frame above said platform, and a foot-rest detachably fitted to said platform and adapted to said supportingconnections of the pendent frame, to be supported thereby above said foot-board or platform, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with the chair having the pendentframe and the vertically-adjustable foot-board or platform sustained by said frame, of the foot-rest detachably connected to the outer end of the platform and fitted for attachment to the pendent frame above the platform, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination of the chair-seat, the back-pad support,"the back pad adjustably sustained by said support and capable of rocking and up-and-down adjustment rela tively to the seat, and the single clamp by which to lock the back pad in all its ad justcd positions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. The combination of the chair-seat frame having the rigid chair-back-supporting frame extending upwardly therefrom and provided with the cross bolt or rod above the seat, the vertically and laterally adjustable chair-back supported thereby, and the single clamp by which it is adj ustably connected with and supported upon said cross bolt or rod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

14. The combination of the chairseat frame, the chair-back-supporting frame extending upwardly therefrom and provided with the cross bolt or red above the seat, the adjustable chair-back movable by sliding endwise of said bolt or rod toward either side of the chair, and the clamp by which to lock the chair-back in its ad jnstcd position, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the head-rest bar, the clamp fitted to slide thereon, the parallel supporting-bars fitted at one end in said clamp by a rocking connection, and the head-rest pad connected with the opposite ends of said bars by a rocking joint which permits said pad to be adjusted relatively to said rocking bars.

16. The combination, substantially as here inbefore forth, of the head-rest bar, the adjustable clamp, the parallel bars carried by said clamp, the head-rest pad, the plate connecting the pad and bars having a tapering eye to receive correspondingly-shaped portions of the parallel bars, and the tighteningbolt passing through both bars and plate.

In testimony that I claim the aforesaid invention I hereunto subscribe my name.

THOMAS J. CARRICK.

lVitnesses:

JOHN W. TAYLOR, J. W. PARKER.

IIO 

